Andrew Jackson Party: Democrat Terms: (2) 1829-1837 Vices: John C. Calhoun 1829-1832, Martin Van Buren 1832-1837 Birth: March 15, 1767 Waxhaws, South Carolina Death: June 8, 1845 Nashville, Tennessee Grade: C- Theme: Slavery and its legacies in North America
Andrew Jackson like most southerners approved of slavery. Since he was a substance planter he owned several slaves. Jackson insisted that slaves be treated humanely, but showed no disposition to abolish the law. Jackson’s administration was very hostile to slavery and did not want to ruin the south’s “peculiar institution”. In the summer of 1835 the north’s antislavery groups were sending propaganda to the south. The southern legislatures passed laws to keep the indecent literature out, and for the post men not to deliver it. A mob of around 300 men swarmed the post office and seized all the literature that they could and burned it. However the Jackson administration did little or nothing to handle the situation, which shows his true southern roots. He called the abolitionists monsters, and believed the sectional differences would just dissolve on their own. Jackson was in total support of slavery, so he didn’t do too much about it. Intro
“ Old Hickory” was known for being a war hero and for being on the twenty dollar bill. Jackson had quite a childhood. He was orphaned and was involved in many bloody scuffles and fights. Where he was from fighting was more important then receiving a proper education. Jackson was a different type of president, one that America had not yet seen. Jackson as a president deserves the grade of a C-. He was defiantly not the best but wasn’t the worst. Goals
In Jackson’s inaugural address he states several goals he has for America. The first is on foreign relations. From fighting in the war of 1812 he was to have positive relations with other nations. He wants to preserve peace and have a friendship on fair and honorable terms. A second goal is to respect states rights, wanting them to have sovereignty and not violate the tenth amendment. A third goal is to manage the public revenue. Like many other president he doesn’t want to wasteful with money and to pay offnational debt. Jackson is actually somewhat successful with this goal. He is the only president to pay off the national debt during his term. Other goals include internal improvements like roads and education, keep the army the same size, l=enlarge the navy, and Indians. He states how he wants to give them considerable attention their rights and wants, which he clearly fails to do with the Indian removal act. Congress
Jackson had shaky relations with his congress. His cabinet was not a first rate group of men. Jackson had also decided to make a second group of advisors. This group of men was called his “kitchen cabinet”. He had chosen theses men for his unofficial group himself. The group consisted of his friends, news paper editors, and other supporters. Jackson also used the spoils system which rewarded his supporters with government positions. He had replaced nine percent of his original congress with unqualified citizens. Jackson also had issues with his first vice president John C. Calhoun. After Calhoun published a pamphlet in support of South Carolina’s nullification crisis Jackson was very angered at him. They had two different views on the subject and couldn’t agree. Calhoun eventually resigned and was replaced by Van Buren. Positive/Negative
By far Jackson’s biggest positive is his stance and reaction to the nullification crisis. After lowering the tariff in 1832 South Carolina was still not content. They believed that the tariff was still too high. Charleston was a major port for them and since they imported more then they exported it was still difficult for them to pay. They wanted the tariff nullified. Jackson took this a personal and political challenge and he was ready for anything. Jackson would not tolerate mutiny and stood firm. After South Carolina claimed that they would not pay for it was unlawful Jackson responded with a presidential proclamation. He basically said that nullification was a violation of their duties as citizens. Jackson was also tough claiming he would hang the first man on the first tree he sees. Eventually Jackson reduced the tariff South Carolina was finally happy. This was Jackson’s finest hour. He handled the situation very well and it was non violent.
Jackson is best known for his biggest mistake, the Indian removal Act. The Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chicsaw, and Sminole tribes were all forced out of their homes by the government. The southern Americas were egar for land to grow cotton so they pressured the government to take the land from the Indians. These five nations all tried to save their land, many were peaceful attempts. One method was adopting American traditions like large scale farming, education, and slavery. Another attempt was just giving land to the whites, but controlling small portion. However the Sminole nation used violence to try to keep their land. The other nations used legal methods such as constitutions, and the Supreme Court. Jackson however views the natives a savage and uncivilized so he passed the Indian Removal Act. One by one the tribes signed the act and were forcibly removed from their homes. The Trail of tears was a long journey where the natives were plagued with sicknesses and many of them died. In the end the removal seemed like a waste. It cost America around 50 million dollars to recover from both Sminole wars and several lives and valuable cultures were lost. Impact
Jackson's term had a negative impact on the future. During his term he vetoed 12 bills, and the only real legislation passed was the Indian Removal Act. The Indian tribes that were removed are still recovering today from Jackson’s cruel law. Conclusion
By the end of Jackson's term things were worse. He caused the death of innocent people, caused divisions between people, and was greatly disliked by the citizens. Jackson rightfully deserves a C- because he left office with America in a worse state then it was when he entered.
Party: Democrat
Terms: (2) 1829-1837
Vices: John C. Calhoun 1829-1832, Martin Van Buren 1832-1837
Birth: March 15, 1767 Waxhaws, South Carolina
Death: June 8, 1845 Nashville, Tennessee
Grade: C-
Theme: Slavery and its legacies in North America
Andrew Jackson like most southerners approved of slavery. Since he was a substance planter he owned several slaves. Jackson insisted that slaves be treated humanely, but showed no disposition to abolish the law. Jackson’s administration was very hostile to slavery and did not want to ruin the south’s “peculiar institution”. In the summer of 1835 the north’s antislavery groups were sending propaganda to the south. The southern legislatures passed laws to keep the indecent literature out, and for the post men not to deliver it. A mob of around 300 men swarmed the post office and seized all the literature that they could and burned it. However the Jackson administration did little or nothing to handle the situation, which shows his true southern roots. He called the abolitionists monsters, and believed the sectional differences would just dissolve on their own. Jackson was in total support of slavery, so he didn’t do too much about it.
Intro
“ Old Hickory” was known for being a war hero and for being on the twenty dollar bill. Jackson had quite a childhood. He was orphaned and was involved in many bloody scuffles and fights. Where he was from fighting was more important then receiving a proper education. Jackson was a different type of president, one that America had not yet seen. Jackson as a president deserves the grade of a C-. He was defiantly not the best but wasn’t the worst.
Goals
In Jackson’s inaugural address he states several goals he has for America. The first is on foreign relations. From fighting in the war of 1812 he was to have positive relations with other nations. He wants to preserve peace and have a friendship on fair and honorable terms. A second goal is to respect states rights, wanting them to have sovereignty and not violate the tenth amendment. A third goal is to manage the public revenue. Like many other president he doesn’t want to wasteful with money and to pay off national debt. Jackson is actually somewhat successful with this goal. He is the only president to pay off the national debt during his term. Other goals include internal improvements like roads and education, keep the army the same size, l=enlarge the navy, and Indians. He states how he wants to give them considerable attention their rights and wants, which he clearly fails to do with the Indian removal act.
Congress
Jackson had shaky relations with his congress. His cabinet was not a first rate group of men. Jackson had also decided to make a second group of advisors. This group of men was called his “kitchen cabinet”. He had chosen theses men for his unofficial group himself. The group consisted of his friends, news paper editors, and other supporters. Jackson also used the spoils system which rewarded his supporters with government positions. He had replaced nine percent of his original congress with unqualified citizens. Jackson also had issues with his first vice president John C. Calhoun. After Calhoun published a pamphlet in support of South Carolina’s nullification crisis Jackson was very angered at him. They had two different views on the subject and couldn’t agree. Calhoun eventually resigned and was replaced by Van Buren.
Positive/Negative
By far Jackson’s biggest positive is his stance and reaction to the nullification crisis. After lowering the tariff in 1832 South Carolina was still not content. They believed that the tariff was still too high. Charleston was a major port for them and since they imported more then they exported it was still difficult for them to pay. They wanted the tariff nullified. Jackson took this a personal and political challenge and he was ready for anything. Jackson would not tolerate mutiny and stood firm. After South Carolina claimed that they would not pay for it was unlawful Jackson responded with a presidential proclamation. He basically said that nullification was a violation of their duties as citizens. Jackson was also tough claiming he would hang the first man on the first tree he sees. Eventually Jackson reduced the tariff South Carolina was finally happy. This was Jackson’s finest hour. He handled the situation very well and it was non violent.
Jackson is best known for his biggest mistake, the Indian removal Act. The Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chicsaw, and Sminole tribes were all forced out of their homes by the government. The southern Americas were egar for land to grow cotton so they pressured the government to take the land from the Indians. These five nations all tried to save their land, many were peaceful attempts. One method was adopting American traditions like large scale farming, education, and slavery. Another attempt was just giving land to the whites, but controlling small portion. However the Sminole nation used violence to try to keep their land. The other nations used legal methods such as constitutions, and the Supreme Court. Jackson however views the natives a savage and uncivilized so he passed the Indian Removal Act. One by one the tribes signed the act and were forcibly removed from their homes. The Trail of tears was a long journey where the natives were plagued with sicknesses and many of them died. In the end the removal seemed like a waste. It cost America around 50 million dollars to recover from both Sminole wars and several lives and valuable cultures were lost.
Impact
Jackson's term had a negative impact on the future. During his term he vetoed 12 bills, and the only real legislation passed was the Indian Removal Act. The Indian tribes that were removed are still recovering today from Jackson’s cruel law.
Conclusion
By the end of Jackson's term things were worse. He caused the death of innocent people, caused divisions between people, and was greatly disliked by the citizens. Jackson rightfully deserves a C- because he left office with America in a worse state then it was when he entered.
Works Cited
"Andrew Jackson : Good, Evil & The Presidency . Themes . What Does America Owe The Slaves? | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/themes/what_does_america_owe_its_slaves.html>.
"Andrew Jackson & the Nullification Crisis « Haysville Community Library." Haysville Community Library. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://haysvillelibrary.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/andrew-jackson-the-nullification-crisis/>.
"Andrew Jackson Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.biography.com/people/andrew-jackson-9350991?page=6>.
The Hermitage - Nashville, Tennessee. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.thehermitage.com/>.
"Indian Removal." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html>.
"Slavery - Andrew Jackson - Policy, Election, Second." Presidents: A Reference History. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Washington-Johnson/Andrew-Jackson-Slavery.html>.
"SparkNotes: Andrew Jackson: Into the White House." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/jackson/section8.rhtml>.